The fabric of our nation has once again been frayed. Today, we struggle to comprehend what one federal law enforcement official called “the most horrific crime scene I have ever seen” – the carnage resulting from a mass shooting at a temple in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Each day, every one of us at UCSF comes to campus driven by a desire to heal and to improve the quality of life in our communities, our country, and around the globe. What are we to do in the wake of wanton acts of violence that leave our communities in pain?

We grieve for lives lost too soon. We pause in silence to give strength to the brokenhearted. We take a little extra time to tell our friends and colleagues that they are important to us. And we find solace in knowing that all of us, collectively, are committed to lessening the pain and suffering in the world through caring, healing, learning, and discovery.

Please remember that members of our community have access to professional counseling and confidential services:

This week it was reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is leading an effort to revise federal guidelines and define gender as “…. immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth”, which would effectively exclude transgender, nonbinary and intersex people from the protections and rights afforded in our country.

UCSF is firmly committed to the rights, and to freedom from harassment and discrimination, of all individuals.

UCSF welcomes all races, religions, countries of origin, sexual orientations, genders, ethnicities and abilities. We stand alongside and unequivocally support the trans, nonbinary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming communities, and their allies.

UCSF is a member of the University of California, and UC policies ensure protection from harassment and discrimination. Additionally, state laws, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, prohibit employment discrimination and harassment of transgender workers by providing protections based on gender identity and gender expression. The Gender Recognition Act (SB179), which becomes law on January 1, 2019, will ensure that trans and nonbinary people can easily secure birth certificates and state-issued identification with a correct gender identity.

UCSF leadership recognizes that proposals such as the one being considered by HHS cause pain and suffering, and work to undercut the bonds of diversity and inclusion that unify our communities. We are in solidarity with you and are committed to the safety and well-being of each and every one of our community members.

This week, UCSF was challenged with its second strike in 2018. The disruptions caused by these strikes were significant and affected the entire UCSF community – faculty, staff, trainees, students, visitors, and especially our patients.

At UCSF Health, more than 5,000 appointments, including critical surgeries and cancer infusion treatments, were canceled, rescheduled or delayed, creating a serious impact on patient care. For those patients who remained in our hospitals or received outpatient services, it was disconcerting to receive care in an environment like the one we experienced this week.

The strike ended early this morning, and we send our thanks to each of you who came to work this week as well as to every person who planned and helped UCSF through this trying time. We express our appreciation to the volunteers and the replacement workers who enabled UCSF to continue providing services across the campus and UCSF Health.

No matter your individual view about strikes, everyone in the UCSF family is bonded together by our PRIDE Values: professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence. We are grateful for the professionalism that was displayed throughout this period, including by those in our UCSF family who chose to participate in the strike.

As we come together today and beyond in fulfillment of UCSF's mission, we ask that everyone recommit to these values. At UCSF, there will always be far more that unites us than can ever divide us.

Along with the leaders at the other UC campuses and the UC Office of the President, you can be assured that we are committed to finding a resolution to these labor...

Over the next few weeks, University of California faculty, staff, and students will join millions of Americans across the country and fulfill their civic duty by casting their ballots for or against a wide range of issues and individuals seeking public office. I encourage all of you to participate in the electoral process. It is a privilege and a right that serves as the foundation for the laws that govern our nation.

I also want to remind the campus community that there are legal restrictions on University of California involvement in political campaign activities based on the status of the University as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and as a state entity. The University may not endorse, oppose, or contribute to political candidates, nor may University resources (including University-paid time or equipment) be used for campaign purposes in connection with ballot propositions.

I want to emphasize that the University does not restrict any member of the University community – student, academic appointee, staff employee – from exercising his or her right to engage in personal political activity. However, no member of the University community may use University facilities or resources (including time on the job) for political purposes, except as specifically permitted by University regulations. In addition, care should be taken to avoid creating any misperception of University endorsement of a particular political position. I encourage you to review the University guidelines regarding the restrictions that apply to University of California...

We have received notice from the AFSCME union that both of their bargaining units will strike or participate in a sympathy strike across the University of California (UC) system, including UCSF, beginning Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 4:00 a.m. and ending Friday, October 26, 2018 at 3:59 a.m. UC anticipates that other unions with expired contracts also may join AFSCME in sympathy. You can find strike updates on UCSF.edu throughout the strike.

As we have stated in advance of previous strikes, we respect our employees’ rights to representation and freedom of speech. That said, striking is a serious matter, especially when it directly affects vital public services such as patient care.

Labor actions significantly impact patients and their families. During the strike in May, thousands of patient appointments were cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled. Some of our patients had to see other providers for their care. In addition, strikes create very real tensions among colleagues.

Once again, we expect disruptions to services across UCSF, particularly at UCSF Health and the UCSF Dental Center, as well as those performed by UCSF employees at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

As always, our top priorities are the safety and security of the entire UCSF community – faculty, staff, learners, patients, and visitors. To support our work and minimize the impact of the strike, we have refined contingency plans based on our...

We are happy to share with you the good news that the University of California and the California Nurses Association (CNA) have reached an agreement on a new, four-year labor contract for nurses who work across UC.

We appreciate our nurses at UCSF for their professionalism, compassionate, evidence-based care, and teamwork that contribute to the clinical quality, research, and innovation that are hallmarks at UCSF. Their commitment to excellence at UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco led to the prestigious Magnet designation in both 2012 and 2017 from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, after rigorous evaluation in the areas of leadership, empowerment, exemplary practice, improvement, and innovations.

Our nurses make a tremendous difference in the care that our patients receive, and we thank all UCSF nurses and nurse leaders who every day redefine what’s possible for our patients and embody our UCSF PRIDE Values.

The highlights of the agreement, to be effective through October 31, 2022, with CNA are posted online.

We hope that UC and the unions are able to come to resolution for the other open contracts soon.